about us

Projects have included:

- neighborhood clean-ups;

- neighborhood-based social events;

- on-going political advocacy directed at enforcement of blight laws, code enforcement, and fair housing practices;

- indigenous leadership development;

- creation of a neighborhood newsletter;

- convention of the North End Housing Initiative to redevelop Ferry and Green Streets;

- collaborations with community organizations and agencies devoted to community-building initiatives;

- creation of the Ferry Street Community Garden;

- numerous collaborations with Wesleyan University including the Green Street Arts Center, community research projects, and extensive volunteer opportunities for Wesleyan students;

- hosted a community planning event with the Yale Urban Design Workshop to gain community input on neighborhood problems and possible solutions;

- developed a children's mentoring program with Wesleyan students for children living within the most distressed area;

- provided advocacy on the future of Macdonough elementary school;

- provided political advocacy on behalf of the neighborhood to retain municipal sanitation standards;

- Ten Point Community Policing Model

- organized and lead numerous workshops and field trips for community, political, municipal, and law enforcement personnel on issues ranging from code enforcement, public safety standards, tenant/landlord issues, and drug dealing;

- provided neighborhood leadership on environmental justice;

- NEAT has provided neighborhood representation on numerous boards and committees within the City of Middletown relative to providing a neighborhood voice on city issues;

- voter registration efforts;

- formed a children's a cappella chorus, NEAT NOTES;

- developed Arts-in-the-Garden, a weekly concert series in the community garden; developed the daVinci Club;

- developed a scholarship program for neighborhood children;

- job bank, tutoring program, credit remediation help, and

- funding for the operation of the organization.

The North End Action Team (NEAT) evolved in 1996 from a city-sponsored Urban Homesteading Task Force, begun in response to widespread concerns about negative conditions in the city's North End. Resident activists and organizers believed that a grassroots effort should be undertaken to develop resident-driven leadership to assess problems, determine priorities, and develop solutions to neighborhood issues.

Residents, stakeholders, and volunteer organizers began to meet weekly to establish a process from which to move the neighborhood onto higher ground. The North End Action Team was established in the summer of 1997.

Since then NEAT has organized and provided advocacy on both bricks and mortar issues and on development of resident potential.

NEAT's monthly neighborhood meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Green Street Arts Center. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Childcare is provided by Wesleyan University student volunteers.

NEAT has an office at 668 Main Street at the corner of Main and Rapallo Avenue. Visit our office and discuss your concerns and interests informally with NEAT members and staff or call us at  (860) 346-4845.

our

partners
This is a partial list of organizations and agencies that work with the North End Action Team.  Please be patient if we are missing anyone, we are still building this list.

• The Green Street Arts Center

• Weslyan University

• The Buttonwood Tree

• Oddfellows Playhouse

• Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council

• The Middlesex United Way

• Nehemiah Housing Development Corp.

• and many more!
   

neat

board of directors

check out the north end blog